FIRE SAFETY

Fire rules

• All rooms must have clearly displayed a blue fire notice, which details the contact arrangements in the event of fire. This notice should also accurately describe the position of the nearest fire exit and the break glass alarm point. Breaking the glass and pressing the button activates the alarm.
• On discovery of an outbreak of fire, the Janitor must be notified immediately who in turn will notify the Head Teacher.
• The person discovering the outbreak should activate the fire alarm system at the nearest point
• The sounding of the Fire Bell even in test conditions indicates alarm activation. The activation is which is indicated in the Janitors Office also releases the locking system enabling the opening of all fire doors.
• If the outbreak is not severe, members of staff unless required for the supervision of children may use any available extinguishers or other means to contain the outbreak until the arrival of the Fire Brigade. If in doubt the advice is to follow the evacuation procedure.
• On activation of the alarm system, the Janitor (SSO) on duty will telephone the Fire Brigade. The Janitor in possession of a radio will be in a state of high alert ready to respond to any requests from the fire marshals
• All occupants must evacuate the building in accordance with the blue fire notice and go to the assembly point designated. Teachers must ensure that all children under their control proceed quickly but without rushing or posing a risk to others, to the nearest available exit. During the evacuation of classes, there must be no noise so that necessary instructions can be, heard and passed on.
• If it is possible to do so without causing undue delay or interfering with the immediate supervision of the children, teachers should take with them their class register. Similarly if it does not interfere with the speedy evacuation and supervision of the children, staff should endeavor to close all windows and doors.
• No time should be taken to collect personal belongings, coats, etc.
• The designated Fire marshal is:
  1. The Business Manager
  2. Or The Depute Head in the absence of the Business Manager
• Once the evacuation is underway it must continue and all occupants will muster at the assembly point. Teachers should escort their classes to the designated assembly point On arrival at the assembly point Teachers should line their class up, take a register and pass this information to the Head of Department. It is the responsibility of the Head of Department to ensure that the classes within their area are accounted for. Once the Head of Department is in possession of the details these are given the Fire marshal.
• In the event of pupils being unaccounted for and thought to be within the building, the Head Teacher or senior person present must be notified immediately.
• If children are thought to be still within the building, available staff not required for the general supervision of children may re-enter the building so far as is consistent with their own safety (bearing in mind that the child may in fact be elsewhere than was thought). In the event of the children still being unaccounted for on the arrival of the Fire Brigade, the senior person present must advise the Chief Fire Officer immediately. In any event all personnel must obey the instructions of the Fire Officer
• Once a roll call has been completed, all evacuated persons will remain at the assembly point until given further instruction by the Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal will only be give such instruction following authorisation by the Senior Fire officer in attendance.
• Each Head of Department must complete a Fire Evacuation Record Sheet and pass it to the Business Manager as soon as is reasonably practicable.

• Examination rooms (only rooms with direct access to outside via emergency fire exit -doors) - Special arrangements should be put in place to deal with alarm activation while an examination is taking place. These should be conveyed to all examinees prior to the commencement of an exam.
• A radio is made available to the invigilator who should be acquainted with its use to make and receive calls
• All examination candidates would be advised before starting the examination that should the alarm activation occur and they smell smoke or see fire then they must evacuate immediately. If there is no imminent danger they are to stop the exam but remain seated and await further instruction from the invigilator. If the activation proves false and an evacuation is not necessary then the appropriate amount of time lost during the alarm will be added on to the end of the examination.

General Safety Considerations

• Materials (combustible or otherwise) must not be stored in corridors, passageways, staircases or doorways used as exits in the event of emergenc
• Open, convector or night store type heaters must not be covered either with classroom materials or personal belongings and must be kept at a safe distance from furniture etc.
• The highest degree of care should be given to maintaining fire exit doors in first class working condition at all times. The Business Manager should be notified if a fire exit door appears to be faulty. Smoke doors must never be secured in an open position
• Fire, notices should be prominently exhibited in all rooms of the building (including staffrooms, halls, GP rooms and offices) indicating the action to be taken on the outbreak of fire and indicating the means of escape from that particular room or area.
• Decorations or display materials should be kept clear of heaters and never sus­pended from electrical light fittings,
• Care should be taken to see that all items in use in classroom situations are acceptable as being safe. Nothing of a highly inflammable nature should be kept in classroom cupboards. Dirty rags, especially if oily are subject to spontaneous combustion and must not be allowed to accumulate, whilst aerosol containers can be particularly dangerous if ex­posed to heat or even strong sunlight.
• Staff and pupils must scrupulously observe the special requirements in science, technical and homecraft departments. Notices relation to procedures which carry a fire risk must be displayed prominently in those areas where the procedure takes place.
• Inflammable material must not be al­lowed to accumulate in switch rooms or near main fuse boxes. Excessive amounts of loose paper should not be left on desks or floors.

Should Fire Occur:

• Any person discovering the fire must activate the nearest break-glass fire alarm IMMEDIATELY
• The Head Teacher or person in charge should be alerted IMMEDIATELY as to the location of the fire
• The Head Teacher, senior person present or designated member of staff must summon the Fire Service IMMEDIATELY by means of a 999 telephone call
• On hearing the alarm, all pupils and visitors must evacuate the building in a quiet and orderly manner, as should all members of staff not having specific responsibilities relating to the fighting of the fire
• There should be no delay in evacuating the building nor should any re-enter the premises for any purpose
• Lifts must never be used under any circumstances
• All evacuees must go to the pre-arranged assembly points
• The Head Teacher or person in charge should permit no evacuees to re-enter the premises until authorised to do so by the senior Fire Officer present
• Only competent, trained members of staff should attempt to use fire fighting equipment and then only without putting themselves at risk.